Hollywood’s enduring love affair with remaking old hits is alive and well, and the latest to receive the reboot treatment is Glee. While devoted fans of the series may be positively ecstatic at the prospect of revisiting its campy, melodramatic nostalgia, others are left wondering whether we really need to resuscitate the problematic world of Glee.
Disney has confirmed the reboot (or Glee-boot, if you will), bringing Ryan Murphy’s musical dramedy back after a decade away from our screens. Variety has reported that Lea Michele is set to reprise her role as Rachel Berry, while social media posts from other OG cast members hinting at their return suggest a major reunion could be on the cards.
For a generation of viewers who grew up alongside the show’s cast of quirky misfits, the prospect is undoubtedly enticing. But nostalgia, however potent, is not always reason enough to resurrect something.
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During its original run, Glee occupied an almost inescapable corner of the pop-cultural zeitgeist, transforming show choir into a glitter-dusted battleground for teenage angst, ambition and belonging. At its heart was a motley crew of outsiders, each struggling to navigate the unforgiving social hierarchies of high school.
It was viciously satirical and gloriously absurd, festooned with extravagant musical numbers and explorations of the insecurities, heartbreaks and triumphs that define growing up.
When Glee premiered in 2009, its exploration of sexuality, race, grief, disability, bullying and mental health helped bring conversations often relegated to the margins into the mainstream. But for all its progressive ambitions the series was not immune to the limitations of its time. Beneath a glossy veneer of inclusivity, its treatment of diversity could veer into the superficial, with marginalised characters too often confined to stereotypes or tokenistic narratives. Sometimes it really is best to let sleeping dogs lie.
Complicating the show’s legacy further is the tragedy that has shadowed its cast. Naya Rivera, who portrayed Santana Lopez, died in July 2020 in an accidental drowning following a boating incident. Her death followed that of Cory Monteith, who died of an accidental drug overdose in 2013, and Mark Salling, who died by suicide in 2018, weeks before he was due to be sentenced over charges relating to child pornography.
Which Glee Characters Are Returning?
Disney has yet to confirm the cast or release date, but Variety has already reported that Lea Michele is set to reprise her role as Rachel Berry. Meanwhile, Heather Morris and Chord Overstreet, who played Brittany Pierce and Sam Evans respectively, have posted on social media hinting they will also be returning.
Ryan Murphy has also suggested a potential mass reunion, telling Entertainment Tonight that he has “been in touch with around 10 of the original cast members”.
Where To Watch Glee In Australia
If you’re wanting to take a trip down memory lane before the reboot arrives, you can find all 6 seasons of Glee on Disney+ Australia.
